Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Internet
Connectivity is one of the most important factors in our modern lives. Having a fast internet connection is one of the essential tools that helps us work, entertain ourselves and in general, operate optimally.
However, there are various situations that can cause the internet to disconnect, or to function in any other way than is optimal. Depending on the scenario, simple things such as rebooting your router might solve most problems with a malfunctioning internet connection.
Yet, there are times when you need to make changes to your internet connection. These are the most common signs that you should look at your internet connection rather than hardware or software.
Slow Streaming Speed – Videos Buffering Too Long
This is as clear of a reason that your internet speed is lacking. But, in order to eliminate another possible factor, WiFi dead zones, you should consider using WiFi heatmap tools and other means to determine whether it is a bad wireless connection.
Range is a problem when there are too many obstacles like concrete walls, not to mention other devices that cause interference.
Eliminating them from the equation leaves us with a slow internet connection. When even 480p videos are not buffering properly, you should definitely consider a better plan. This is the most extreme example of a bad internet connection, if it cannot handle a single user.
Multiple Smartphones/Devices Cause Slow Speeds
This could be a two-pronged problem, though it might just be one of two. An old router, prior to WiFi 5, would be much worse at performing with multiple devices, compared to routers that are WiFi 5 or 6 capable.
If the router is not the source of the problem, then multiple devices asking for a connection and demanding speed, might cause congestion if the internet simply doesn’t have enough bandwidth. This is a problem which is relatively easy to diagnose, as soon as you determine that your router is not the source of the problem. Internet speed tests should tell you a part of the story, your peak speeds, for example, but stability might be another issue.
Terrible Gaming Experience – It’s Not Just About Speed
A faster internet connection should be a gateway to carefree online gaming, however, speed tells only a part of the story. If you have a fast connection which is prone to jitter and packet loss, then you have not really upgraded, at least not when it comes to gaming.
Gaming is often very sensitive to jitter and packet loss, specifically real-time games like MOBAs, battle royales and MMOs.
Speed is a recommended feature of a good internet connection for gaming, but stability is more important, particularly for any real-time game. Turn-based games are another story, but their playthrough is much less reliant on real-time transfers, information being sent and received typically after one ends a turn.
If your gaming experience is stuttery, check that it isn’t your internet connection that is the root of the problem. Once more, eliminate other potential causes like wireless connection, by using an ethernet cable, a bad router/modem combo, then turn to your internet connection.
Changing a plan/ISP often includes canceling a contract/subscription, as well as a waiting period to get new internet.
Additional Smart Devices
If you have a plan to expand your collection of smart devices, or even renovate your home to be a smart one, a better internet connection is a must. People typically watch movies from a single device, unless there are multiple people at home. But, smart devices always communicate with one another and no one wants a malfunction because of a slow internet connection.
More devices, even though they are not demanding, will tax the connection eventually, so regular content consumption like streaming or gaming might suffer.
Fiber Optic is Available
Fiber internet has become the modern standard for a fast and stable internet connection. It can reach much higher speeds than your average DSL connection. There are multiple reasons for it, but the first and most obvious one is the use of fiber optic technology, which was made to specifically carry data, in this case, your internet connection.
DSL connections rely on copper telephone wires and that infrastructure was built almost a century ago, in some cases. It is not suited to the modern use cases, even though it has served us decently.
There is no need to pay for a good internet connection when you can have a great one.
A baseline connection speed is important, and anything over 50 Mbits should do the trick for gaming and full HD streaming. But, pay attention to the connection stability, rather than just the peak speed.
Overpaying a Plan
Sometimes, ISPs tend to be greedy, in a way that doesn’t benefit you. Some ISPs will call you to tell you that your contract is expiring and that you can get a better plan. Others will leave you to use your slow and old connection and pay the same price.
Since technology evolves, having the same plan after a period of two years, even, means that you will be overpaying your plan compared to others, notably better priced options. Why not save money or simply get a better connection for the same price? Periodically check the prices of competing ISPs, to be ready to change the plan when a better opportunity presents itself.
Typically, one shouldn’t use the same plan for more than four years, because during that period, a better plan will most likely be available.
The Connection Speed is Not Everything
Your internet connection could be lacking if you have packet loss and lag in video games, if your streams don’t buffer properly, if multiple people cannot use the internet simultaneously without a long period of buffering, among other things.
However, before one changes their plan, look at things such as cable state, the router and WiFi generation, feature support, as well as the devices that are connecting to the internet. There could be multiple weak links that cause slow connections.
It would be best to eliminate everything else in the signal chain before opting to change your internet plan.